KEREMA General Hospital Labour and Post Natal ward have shut down for indefinite period to carry out urgent maintenance work.This message was disseminated through the office of Gulf Provincial Health Authority (GPHA) caretaker chief executive officer (CEO) Lemeck Karawas last week.Karawas after carrying out several inspections on the status of the ward, through hospital manager Dr Michael Lalam, has closed down both the post-natal and labour ward in Kerema Town.”We are sorry to say that we have no choice but to shut down women’s ward because patients and staff are at risk in this part of the building,” Lalam added.Lalam said patients and staff have fallen into rotten floor holes in the labour and post-natal ward and therefore the authority has decided to renovate the ward as soon as possible because womens’ lives are at stake during delivery.However, the renovation will take place depending on the protocol and funding of maintenance which is expected to be prolonged and pregnant women were asked to deliver at the nearest sub health centres.Karawas said women in Kerema Urban and Central Kerema were asked to go to Murua and Malalaua sub health centres. East Kerema has several sub health centres that can cater for women in the village while the Keouru villages are encouraged to go to Akapiru sub health centre.Lalam said it is the responsibility of Gulf PHA administration to attend to the maintenance issue immediately in order to open the OBs and Gynae Unit.